Water-proof closure



Sept. 30, 1958 Filed Jan. 26, 1956 s. B. TOPF WATER-PROOF CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.3

INVENTOR.

SAM B. TOPF AT TORNEY Sept. 30, 1958 s. B. TOPF WATER-PROOF CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26, 1956 INVENTOR. SAM B. TOPF ATTORNEY United States Patent This invention relates generally to fastener devices and is more particularly directed to a separable water-proof closure means of flexible material.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a water-proof separable juncture of two sections of flexible material wherein edge portions of the flexible material are rolled together and compressed, to form an effective seal against the ingress of water, moisture and the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a water-proof closure for flexible material described as above wherein the roll of flexible material is'compressed by separable fasteners secured on each of the outer and inner surfaces of the flexible material and as more tension or pull is exerted on the fasteners, the roll is compresed further and its effectiveness as a seal increased.

A further object of the present invention is to provide tents, tarpaulins for storing grain and the like with separable closures which are water and moisture proof, of sufficient strength to prevent rupturing when subjected to extra ordinary pull or stress and relatively inexpensive in cost.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a Water-proof closure characterized as above which is readily uncoupled at any desired position to provide an opening therein and equally as readily fastened together without impairing the water seal characteristics of the closure.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forminga part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a transverse sectional view of a separable water-proof closure embodying my invention shown at the position of the fasteners in their open or disengaged position.

Figure 2 is a similar view with the fasteners shown in their partially closed position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view partially broken away with the fasteners shown in their completely secured positions. a

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4- in Figure 3 showing the water-proof roll compressed to its water-tight position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure l of a modified form of my invention.

Figure 6 is a similar view with the fasteners shown in their partially closed position.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary top 'plan view partially broken away to show the roll and snap fasteners,

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 88 of Figure 7 showing the fasteners in their engaged ture sealing position.

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Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figures be used although any water-proof material which is mildew and rot resistant would be suitable since the material'itself forms no part of the present invention.

The sections of material 10 which form the desired protective covering have overlapping end portions 11, 11 whose function is described in detail hereinafter. Adjacent each of the free ends 11, 11 of the portions 10, 10 there is secured a stringer 12 sewed along one. edge to the lower surface of the material 11 as at 13. Along the free edges of the stringers 13 there is a conventional zipper or slide fastener 14 coupled together by a slider 15 which is adapted to couple together the zipper elements 14 when slid along in one direction and disengage the zipper elements 14 from each other when permitted to slide or move in the other direction. Also provided on each of the material sections 10 is a flap 15 having their inner edge portions sewed or otherwise secured as at 16 to the outer surface of the material 10 with the free ends of the flaps 15 extending in a direction toward each other. The stitchings 13 and 16 are water-proofed in the usual manner and more than one row thereof may be used to provide the stringers 12 and flaps 15'with suflicient strength to withstand the strain and pull to which the various parts are subjected. The flaps 15 are each provided with a row of equally spaced grommets 17 to receive a'lacing thong 18 therethrough. I

In the normal use of the instant invention to form a water-tight juncture of the sections 10, 10, the fasteners 14, 14 are positioned together nd the slide fastener 15 moved therealong to effect the inter-engagement of the fasteners 14. Then the end portions 11, 11 are placed edge to edge and rolled together along their full lengths to form a roll 19 as shown by Figure 2. The flaps 15 are made to lie on the roll and the thong 18 is laced through the grommets 17 going from one side to the other as shown by Figure 3. The thong 18 is then pulled tightly drawing the flaps 15 close to each other and at the same time compressing the roll 19. It is evident that as long as the roll 19 is maintined in a compressed condition water,'moisture, etc. cannot leak or V seep by the layers of fabric 11, 11. Any pull or outgrommets 17 to release the roll 19, which is then unalong their lengths, to the upper and, lower surfacesgre- 121123, and slide the slider 15 to disengage the zipper It will be evident that many changes or variations may be made of the instant invention in attempting to achieve theresults attained herein. For example, any or all of the parts formed by the stringer 12, flap 15 and 'end portion 11 of the material section10 may be constructed of the same cloth or material as the section 10 as .by folding and sewing the fold, or metallic hooks may be used in lieu of the zipper 14, 15' and the lacing 18.

Also, the effectiveness of the water-tight feature of the instant invention may be enhanced as illustrated by. Figures 5-8 inclusive where there is shown the material section 20, 20 having stringers 22, 22Aand flaps 25 sewed 'spectively of the section 20 adjacent end portions 21 in "substantiallythe same manner as the previously described water-proof closure. To the stringer 22 there is attached 91 W of e n a mal aP u t n 2. Whil on fthefiother' stringer 22A there is 'a row Jofrnatehingfemale "buttons 24A adapted tobe engaged by the male buttons 24 when securing the stringers -12-together; as shownby'Eigure-S. Also, one of, the-fiaps=25; is provided witharow of grommets '27 while the other fiap 25- has metallic h ooks-27,A secured thereon in a row staggered 'in position thereon with relation to the grommets 17.

Free ends-30 of the end portions 21 are returned or foldedon themselves and sewed as at-31 to form a tubular chamber 'forreceiving a resilient tubular 3 member 32 -which is positioned therein. Thetubular member 32-may be of any desired cross sectional configuration.

To produce awater and moisture proof joint, the snap buttons 24 and 24A are positioned one on the other and sn'apped together, and the end portions- 21, ZIaregrasped tat-the position of the tubularmembers=32 and coiled togetherto form a roll 29 as shown by Figure 6. Then. the 1 lacing thong 28 is alternatelythr'eaded throughthe grom- --mets-27. and slipped over the metallic,hooks 27A to be- .come engaged thereby. Aschereinabove stated-the lacing thong-28 'is drawn tightly to compress the roll 29. T he folds of -material 11 are compactly pressed together to prevent any seepage of water, moisture and the like therezbetween;therebyinsuringithe dryness of the commodity ;being'covere1d:by the material sections 20, 20. Also, if it ispdesired to attain access. to the commodity, protected .by .,the: mater,ia1' 20,-20ralong-any position removed fromthe extremmends, of the closure, rall:that,need;be.,done is to grasp the; lacing,28 adjacent one of the metallic hooks 21A and slip the; lacing over that hook and a number of ,-adjacent hooks'27A to open a portion suflicient to release the-roll 29and permit the roll 29 to-be,-unco iledaand the stringers 24, 24A to be disengaged at'the snap buttons 2 4,24A. This permits a person to obtain-a sample, to observe or otherwise have accessto the product being coveredby the sections 20. -Now, by snapping the snap buttons 24, 24A together, coiling the free ends,2 4 together to form the roll 29 and; then, slipping the disengaged loops of the;-thongs 28 over-tthe hooks 27A'to their.-original position the closure is again sealed. In addition, thelacing thong;27 cannot berlost or mislaid since it is at-.all times threaded; through the grommets 27. a

I-Iaving described my invention, what I-claim as new; is: 1. A,,water;pr.oof-,-closure for separablyjoininga-plurality of sections of material having free end portions ,s m in r. l sab i nias mea eeme t o surfaee pf said sections adjacent said freetendwportionma i'r olljfor ined pf said free-end, portions coiled, ab out each iother positionedomsaid fastening means, and further ffastening rneans secured .to the otherxof. said surfaces, of

ns whereby said. poll maybe-compressed torseal ed fasteningtrneans' i i -proof closure forjseparably joininga pair of sections of'material ha ing free end portions. comprising releasable fastening means secured to alower surface of each of saidsectionsin spaced relation tosaid free, end -portions, 'said endportions coiled one about. the other' to form a 'roll, said roll supported by said'fasteningmeans, secondfastening means secured to the, upper,su rf ae of each of said sections 'in proximity of;saidf first named fastening means, said secondfas'teningjmeans engaging said rolhwhereby said roll may-becompressed "to "seal said-closure; a a r i 3.' A-=water-proof closure comprising afpair of sections of -material having-free end; portions, a; stringer extending frorma lower surface of eacho'f said'sectionsof material adjacent-said-free -end portions, interengagingfastening r eans mounted-on each of said stringers,- a flap extending Jtfrom anupper surface adjacent each of said}; free end #portions, saidfree endpo r tions coiled oneabopttheo'ther 't'o -forrn' a roll, sQaid roll 'supported-fby said; interengaging 'faste'nerm'eans, and fastening meansmounted on'sa'id flaps engaging the upper portion of said roll adapted to compress -said--roll-and --sea1-said *interengaging --fastening means.

4. A water-proof closure comprising two sections of 5 flexible material having free end portions adjacent each other, releasable fasteningrnear s mounted on one surface of said sectiops seeuripg said s eetigps of flexible material adjacent said fre'eendportions; an elongated flexible member mounted ,-=on ,eac h of.s aid fr ee end portions, a roll formed of said elongated flexible members and said free endportions coiled about each other and positioned adjacent said fastepi-ng means and further fastening means mounted on the other surface of said sections securing said sections of flexible material and extending across sa 1 .421 1 er ta tt e ssin -.s. and seal n s 54 A Water-Proof osur jmnpris a twp s ti n o ,fler b mata ie haYia fi sn -m tti9ssa rin e a -Zane? atea lowe l fi -e 'ea h lsai i flf Iaatef es1i e ta df ee nq-rqr-t n n lisi terier e'lemen, mountedalorig the other edgemf tri. r-e m'qi tqd Q r ita eae merits for securing said fastener elements together, ;a flap secure d2alpng.,one edge to ,the uppersurface c f e,ach of cc on s in prqximitycf said stringers, {a lur ality of ing mea nsQsecured in arow one of said arret endportions.ofsaidsectionsc d about q 1 :ch thergtoform 'a roll, said roll supported :by said st ngers ,-,a.Il. thong extending ;over said roll .and .re-

d by hongreceivilng means adapted to secure sa d flaps ,ltogether and compress said roll against said lfas tener'; elements to .seal same.

A vwater-proofclosure comprlsing two sections ,of flexiblematerial having free end portions, a stringer secured along one edge to a lower surface of each ofsaid sections of material adjacent said free end portions, re-

.leasable "fastening means mounted on said stringers for releasably fastening said stringers together, a flap secured along one edge to the upper surface of each of said 40 sectionsadjacentsaid free end portions, a plurality ;of thongreceiving means secured on said flaps, ,an elongated flexible member mounted along each of said free,e nd po rtions, a roll supported by said stringers, said roll formed by said flexible members and said free end portions coiled about each, .and a thong extending over said roll and received by said thong receiving means for securing said flaps together and compressing said rollto seal same.

"7; A water-proof closure comprising two sections of flexible material having end portions, a flexible tubular member mounted at the free edge of said end portions, a stringer secured along one edge to a lower surfaceof each *or said sections adjacent said end portions, releasable fastening means mounted on said stringers for fastening said stringers together, a flap secured along one edge to the upper surface ofsaid sections adjacent said end portions, a plurality of grommets mounted on one ofs aid flaps, a plurality. of' metallic hook members mounted on the other of said flaps, said flexible tubular members and said end portions coiled about each other to form aroll, said roll supported on said stringers,.and a lacing thong-ex- (intending over said roll and alternately'thre adedin said grommets'and said hook members for securing saidflaps together and eifectively sealing said roll.

ReferencesCitedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,277,208 Forster Aug-27, 1918 2,325,332 ,Marinsky July 27, 1943 2,422,249 Malluk June 517, 1947 2,454,214 Sapp No 1 /1 2,477,563 Angus Aug. ,2, 1949 2,551,245 Cook May 1,1951

- ,rFOREIGN PATENTS V 1 55 7541 8 Great Britain Nov. 19,1943 r. 

